THE Batu Caves Hindu temple committee is banning stalls and shop during the Thaipusam celebrations next month to prevent overcrowding, said chairman R. Nadarajah. 

“We have also urged the authorities not to allow any stalls or shops to open along the chariot procession route from Sri Maha Mariamman temple on Jalan Tun H.S. Lee before reaching the Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple.

“The procession will only take about four hours,” he said.

“Only permanent shops will be allowed to open,” he said, adding that only about four to five are in Batu Caves. 

The chariot won’t stop along the route to discourage a crowd.

Other events connected to the celebrations, such as ear piercing and shaving of hair, will also be banned.

Kavadi-bearers will be limited to three people per kavadi, he said.

“We will be controlling the crowd from the main entrance of the Batu Caves temple.

“Making money is not our agenda, our main priority is the safety of our people,” said R. Nadarajah.

Thaipusam, devoted to Lord Murugan, is the biggest festival for Hindus after Deepavali. Millions of Hindus gather for the annual celebration at various temples across Malaysia, the most famous of which is Batu Caves in Selangor.

The date of the festival is determined by the full moon in the month of Thai in the Hindu calendar, which is typically in January or February.

Next year, Thaipusam falls on January 28. – December 28, 2020.